Elkhart police arrest mother

Probable cause hearing in deaths of four children to be held today or Saturday.

Probable cause hearing in deaths of four children to be held today or Saturday.

November 17, 2006|YONIKA WILLIS and PABLO ROS Tribune Staff Writers

ELKHART -- The mother of four children found dead in their west-side home has been arrested in connection with the slayings. Police arrested 27-year-old Angelica Alvarez on Thursday after an extensive investigation into the homicides. Alvarez is expected to have a probable cause hearing today or Saturday, said Bill Wargo, chief investigator with the Elkhart County prosecutor's office. Formal charges can be filed against her within three business days of her hearing. Alvarez and her children, Jennifer Lopez, 8; Gonzalo Lopez, 6; Daniel Valdez, 4; and 2-year-old Jessica Valdez, were found dead in their Hester Street home Tuesday. Alvarez was transported to an area hospital after showing signs of life. Police would not comment on her condition Thursday, but to say that she was improving. The children died of asphyxiation, but no details are being released about the manner of death. Authorities also provided no information about a possible motive in the case. "I don't know if I can believe that a mother would be capable of killing her own children," said Maria Garcia, who formerly babysat for Alvarez's oldest children. Garcia was in total disbelief after hearing of the arrest. "She treated them well," Garcia said. "They were always clean. ... She made them take off their shoes to go into their home. They were well-educated. Her house was very clean; it almost made you feel guilty about your own." "I think anybody would feel sad," Garcia said. "Even people who never met them." The four children lived with Alvarez and her current husband, Fernando Valdez -- the father of the two youngest children -- at 1200 Hester St. Gonzalo Lopez -- Alvarez's ex-husband and father of the two oldest children -- declined to comment on Alvarez's arrest Thursday. But those who know 42-year-old Lopez say he constantly agonized over his children's well-being. "He was very worried about his ex-wife's behavior with the kids," said Jose Botello, a friend and churchmate of Lopez's. Botello said Lopez mentioned to him that his children were being physically harmed by Alvarez and her husband, and Alvarez threw away presents Lopez bought for his children. Garcia could tell she was unhappy during her first marriage. And a history of calls made to police from the Hester Street address shows custody disputes between Alvarez and Lopez. Botello and Jose Gutierrez, pastor of Adulam Christian Community in Goshen, prayed with Lopez on Wednesday. "He was doing OK," Gutierrez said of Lopez's condition. "Of course it was difficult. He said, 'I always try to have a good job to have enough money and support my children, and right now I have the job but not the children."Staff writer Yonika Willis: ywillis@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6556